Cop linked to killing of 3 Chinese drug suspects cited for contempt

MANILA, Philippines —  Senior Police Officer 4 Arthur Narsolis, who reportedly ordered the killing of three Chinese drug suspects in the Davao Penal and Prison Farm (DPPF) last August 2016, has been cited for contempt for skipping the House of Representatives quad committee’s probe into the previous administration’s war on drugs.

During Thursday’s hearing, Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel made the motion, seconded and approved by quad committee chairperson and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Robert Ace Barbers. 

“During the previous hearing, he (Narsolis) was issued the show cause order dated August 28 and he was issued subpoenas last September 4,” Abang LingkodRep. Joseph Stephen Paduano said. 

“Under our rules, since we already issued a subpoena against SPO4 Art Narsolis is still a no-show. We’d like to move that we cite for contempt Art Narsolis to appear in this court,” Pimentel later pointed out.

Paduana made the second motion to detain Narsolis in the House premises as decided until the quad-committee terminates its probe into illegal activities in Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hubs, the illicit drug trade, and alleged extrajudicial killing during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

The motion was seconded and approved by Barbers. 

Based on the results of the previous hearing, the three Chinese nationals,  identified as Chu Kin Tung, Jackson Lee, and Peter Wang, were reportedly killed on orders of Narsolis, quad-committee witnesses Leopoldo Tan and Fernando Magdadaro said. 

During the September 4 hearing, former DPPF head Senior Supt. Gerardo Padilla also admitted receiving orders about not interfering with an “operation,” which reportedly came from former Police Colonel and ex-Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Royina Garma.

Copies of Padilla’s affidavit also showed that Garma purportedly threatened to harm his family if he would not cooperate in the killing of the three Chinese serving prison time at the Davao Penal Farm for drug-related cases.